Pneumatic cotton-picker.



A" 0 9 1 6 1 Q U A D E T N E T A P J. W. B. TURK. PNEUMATIC COTTON PIGKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 767,611. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

v J. W. B. TURK. PNEUMATIC COTTON PIGKER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29. 1904. N0 MODEL.

I 2 sums-sum 2.

WW/BQWZ} m y" 3 r V I e/ llfargzys UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904 PATENT ()EEIcE.

JAMES 'W. B. TURK, OF POTEAU, INDIAN TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM A. VVELCH, JR., OF POTEAU, INDIAN TERRITORY.

PNEUMATIC COTTON-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,611, dated August 16, 1904:.

Application filed January 29, 190 1. Serial No.191,215. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

teau, in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, 1

have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Cotton-Picker, of which the following is a specification.

This-invention relates to pneumatic cottonpickers; and it has for its object to provide a machine of this class which shall be simple in construction, effective in operation,and easily operated or manipulated to remove the cotton from the stalks and to transfer the same into a sack or bag supported upon the machine.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed I have illustrated a simple and preferred form of my invention; but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make any such changes, alterations, and modifications as regards the structural details ofthe device which may come properly within the scope of my invention and which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the effi-.

ciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of av device constructed in accordance with the principles of' my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail rear elevation, partly in section, of the machine. Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the front end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1. I

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

The frame or casing of my improved machine, which is designated generally by the numeral 1, is provided with a sled-shaped bottom 2, upon whicha comparatively narrow casing is built, comprising sides 3 and rear end 4: and a .top piece or deck 5. The forward end of the casingsupports a suction-fan 6, the casing of which, 7 has the inlet 8 and the outlet 9, the latter facing rearwardly and being provided with hooks 10, which are adapted to engage the mouth of a sack 11, which may be conveniently supported upon the deck of the machine. The shaft 13 of the fan is connected by a belt 14 with a band-wheel 15, mounted upon a shaft 16, which is journaled in the sides 3 of the casing. At its opposite end the shaft 3 carries a balance-wheel 17, the rim of which is hollow or tubular and which is divided, by means of stops 18, into four equal compartments 19, in each of which a plurality of weighted balls or weights 20 are placed. These balls or weights, it will be easily observed, when the machine is at rest occupythe lowest possible position. \Vhen the machine is started, a movement will be set up whereby the said balls, partly by gravitation and partly by centrifugal action, will assist in starting the machine and in maintaining the operation thereof. The shaft 16 is provided with a pinion 21, meshing with an intermediate gear-wheel 22 upon an axle 23, said intermediate gear-wheel meshing with a larger gear-wheel 24 upon the drive-shaft 25.

In the upper rear portion of the casing of the machine is constructed a chamber or compartment 26, the bottom of which is slotted for the reception of an operating-lever 27, the lower end of which is connected, by means of a pitnian 28,with a wrist-pin 29 upon a crank 30, connected with the drive-shaft 25. The operating-lever 27 extends upwardly through the top 31 of the compartment 26 and is provided with a handle 32. IVithin the casing 26 are equalizing-springs 33 and 31,connected.re spectively, with the rear and front sides of the lever 27 and connecting the latterwith the rear and front ends of said casing 28. The seat 35 is provided for the operator, who manipulates the lever 27 by rocking the same upon its fulcrum by means of the handle 32, thereby transmitting motion to the suctionfan.

Suitably attached to the inlet 8 of the suction-fan is a bifurcated branch tube 36, the

machine to drag upon the ground.

seat 37 is provided between the branches 36 of the bifurcated suction-tube.

The sled or frame of the machine is mount-- ed upon the front and rear axles 38 89. The front axle is permanently secured under the sled and has ordinary supporting-wheels 40. The axle 39, which has the supporting-wheels 41, is disposed in alinement with segmental slots 42 in the frame of the machine. Said axle is mounted in arms 43, extending from a rock-shaft M, which is journaled in the frame of the machine parallel to said axle and which has an arm or lever 45 whereby it may be operated to raise or lower the rear wheel-carry; ing shaft. WVhen the latter is lowered, it is obvious that the rear part of the body of the machine is raised and supported upon the hind as well as upon the front wheels for trans portation. When, on the other hand, the wheels are raised, it is obvious that the rear part of the machine is correspondingly lowered, so as to rest and drag upon the ground. This is the position assumed by the device when in practical operation. Means, such as a segment-rack 46, may be provided and retained in its adjusted position, the operating lever or handle 45, which is provided with a loclr-dog 4C7, engaging the said segmentrack.

The operation and advantages of this improved machine will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The machine, regardless of its bulk, is very light and may be easily drawn by a single mule. hen the machine is started for operation, the axle carrying the hind wheel is raised, so as to permit the rear part of the The operator seated upon the seat 35 by manipulating the lever 27 imparts a rapid rotary motion to the suction-fan. At the same time the operator seated between the branches of the bifurcated suction-tube by manipulating the extensions of the latter causes the cotton to be removed from the bolls and to pass through the suction-tube 8 and dischargetube 9 into the sack ll. \Vhen the latter has been filled, it may be tied up and dumped at the end of the row and an empty one substituted in its place.

The machine, as will be seen, is quite narrow, so that it may readily travel between two rows of cotton, both of which are simultaneously operated upon by the picking mechanism.

The general simplicity of its construction, ease of operation, and the valuable practical results obtained thereby render my improved machine, while it may be manufactured at a small expense, of great practical value in cotton-producing sections of the country.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. 1n a cotton-picker, a frame having asledbottom, permanently located supportingwheels for the front end of said frame, a vertically-adjustable axle at the rear end of said frame, and supporting-wheels upon said axle.

2. In a cotton-picking machine, a frame or casing having a sled-bottom, a wheeled axle permanently supporting the front end of said casing, a vertically-adjustable wheeled axle at the rear end of said casing, means for adjusting said axle to support the rear end of the casing directly upon the ground, a fan supported by said frame, and operating mechanism within said casing for imparting a r0- tary motion to the fan.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a suitably-supported casing, operating mechanism within the same, a blower supported in said casing, a suction-tube, and a blast-tube connected with the casing of said blower, a bifurcated suction-tube connected with the suction-inlet, flexible extensions of the branches of said bifurcated suction-tube, and a seat supported upon and between the latter.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES WV. B. TURK.

WVitnesses:

HENRY J. FOWLER, CHAs. T. MITCHELL. 

